There's a new hotel right beside the Araneta Coliseum, and across the street from SM Cubao. Along with a dozen other foodies, I was invited to sample the menu of Novotel Manila's Gourmet Bar.
The Gourmet Bar is on the ground floor of the Novotel. The cool and contemporary design of the dining area is impressive, and I can't help but admire the glossy white tables.
Gambas - The gambas was perfectly cooked. I like how this dish is only mildly spicy, and that you can still enjoy the natural taste of the shrimp.
Dinakdakan - The dinakdakan was ok. The meat comes from the head of the pig, grilled, and dressed in a liver mousse. The liver mousse tastes like a smoother and peppery version of Reno liver spread. This dish IMO needed a stronger citrus punch, and I really wish there was more kalamansi in the soy citrus foam.
Black Linguine with Talangka Paste - This pasta dish is DELISH! I really, really liked this one. Al dente noodles, dressed in a fragrant sauce with maya-maya cubes and greens. I would have loved a spoonful more (or two!) of the sauce.
Norwegian Smoked Salmon - Smoked salmon is always a treat. The menu says this dish is served with chives burrata and caviar, but the actual dish served seemed different from what was expected that night. Not sure how to rate this. If you're thinking of ordering this dish, best to confirm availability of the burrata and caviar with the server first.
Pizza Pampanga - Another stand out dish! Who'd have thought that our local breakfast staples tocino and longganisa worked well with melty mozzarella cheese? Diners will surely love the crust on this one. Even the toasty edges of the pie are soft.
Polleto Alla Griglia - It's a decent roast chicken dish. I snapped up the chicken thigh so I had the moist and tender part of this dish. I wish there was more of that rich gravy though. I will definitely request this dish on my next visit. Yum!
We also sampled five beverages from the bar. The Cosmopolitan was good but the alcohol kick was a bit too much. If you're getting one for yourself, have a chat with the friendly bartender and tell him how much alcohol you can take. The frozen margarita is my favorite, and the virgin madras mocktail comes a close second. The strawberry daquiri is decent, and a safe choice if you're not much of a drinker. If you're adventurous and like living life on the edge, why not try the Unleaded Cucumber?
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